THE school holidays may be over and the nights drawing in, but ITV Local can put a stop to those autumn blues. They have teamed up with Bristol Zoo to bring you Gorilla Cam. For the first time in the Zoo’s history you can have 24 hour access to the world of Gorilla Island in the heart of Bristol to your workplace, home, school or your mobile.

Gorilla Island is home to five western lowland gorillas; Salome, a female, born in July ‘76, Romina, another female, born in April ‘80 and Jock, a male born in May ‘85. Jock has fathered two youngsters; Namoki, born May ‘05 and Komale, born Dec ‘06.

The gorilla group’s diet is varied and mimics the diet of wild gorillas including 80% vegetables and 20% fruit, with tree branches on a daily basis. In addition they also get herbal tea and fruit cordial every day, even ice lollies when it’s hot.

Western lowland gorillas come from areas of dense forest and swamp in West Africa, and are seriously threatened in the wild. The forests where they live are being exploited for timber and the gorillas are being hunted for their meat and for bush medicine.

Bristol Zoo Gardens supports conservation work to protect gorillas in the wild in Cameroon. Vital funds are provided for the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund (CWAF) to support a rescue centre and provide education on conservation issues. Bristol Zoo Gardens hopes to raise more funds for the project by raising awareness of its work among visitors who see the gorillas at the Zoo.

So why not join the gorillas for lunch or catch them late afternoon during meal times. Check out the live camera here